Oil Well Cellar Assembly

ABSTRACT

An oil well cellar assembly includes a tube that is positionable beneath ground having the tube surrounding an oil well thereby facilitating the tube to define an oil well cellar to access the oil well. The tube is comprised of an electrically insulating material to enhance safety with respect to electrical discharge between the tube and the oil well. A plurality of spray bars is each coupled to the tube having each of the spray bars being positioned inside the tube for cleaning the tube. A suction conduit is integrated into the tube to facilitate the fluid to be pumped out of the tube after the tube is cleaned. A lid is positionable over the tube and the lid has an opening extending therethrough to accommodate the oil well when the lid is positioned on the tube.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to cellar devices and more particularly pertains to a new cellar device for facilitating access to a below ground oil well.

(2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The prior art relates to cellar devices including a pollution control device for removing oil from water and other fluids. The prior art discloses an oil cellar that comprises a pair of slidable sections to facilitate the oil cellar to be laterally disassembled. The prior art also discloses a portable root cellar that includes an access hatch and a plurality of air vent tubes. The prior art discloses a spill containment device that is attached to the fill spout of a fluid tank. The prior art also discloses a well containment cellar that includes a pair of shelves being integrated therein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a tube that is positionable beneath ground having the tube surrounding an oil well thereby facilitating the tube to define an oil well cellar to access the oil well. The tube is comprised of an electrically insulating material to enhance safety with respect to electrical discharge between the tube and the oil well. A plurality of spray bars is each coupled to the tube having each of the spray bars being positioned inside the tube for cleaning the tube. A suction conduit is integrated into the tube to facilitate the fluid to be pumped out of the tube after the tube is cleaned. A lid is positionable over the tube and the lid has an opening extending therethrough to accommodate the oil well when the lid is positioned on the tube.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an oil well cellar assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure showing a lid being removed from a tube.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new cellar device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the oil well cellar assembly 10 generally comprises a tube 12 that is positionable beneath ground having the tube 12 surrounding an oil well 14 thereby facilitating the tube 12 to define an oil well cellar. In this way the oil well cellar facilitates service workers to access the oil well 14. The tube 12 is comprised of an electrically insulating material to enhance safety with respect to electrical discharge between the tube 12 and the oil well 14. The electrically insulating material may be fiberglass thereby facilitating the tube 12 to be easily repaired if the tube 12 cracks, breaks or experiences other types of structural failure. Moreover, the fiberglass facilitates the tube 12 to be repaired without welding or employing current methods of repairing oil well cellars. In this way the service workers can perform repair work on the without being required to obtain a hot work permit as is currently required for oil cellar repair work.

The tube 12 has an upper end 16, a lower end 18 and an outer wall 20 extending therebetween. The outer wall 20 has an inner layer 22 and an outer layer 24 to inhibit contaminants from escaping the tube 12 when the inner layer 22 is compromised. The inner layer 22 has an inside surface 26 that is directed into an interior of the tube 12, the upper end 16 is open and the lower end 18 is closed. The lower end 18 has an aperture 28 extending into an interior of the tube 12 and the aperture 28 is centrally positioned on the lower end 18. The aperture 28 has the oil well 14 extending upwardly therethrough when the tube 12 is positioned beneath ground. As is most clearly shown in FIG. 4, a sleeve 29 may be inserted in the aperture 28 for guiding the oil well 14.

The upper end 16 is attachable to a pit liner 30 for the oil well 14. The inside surface 26 has a lip 32 extending around a full circumference of the inside surface 26. The lip 32 is spaced downwardly from the upper end 16 and the lip 32 is oriented to extend along a line that is oriented parallel to the upper end 16. A plurality of engagements 34 is each coupled to the upper end 16 of the tube 12. The engagements 34 are spaced apart from each other and are directed around a full circumference of the upper end 16. Each of the engagements 34 comprises a leg 36 extending upwardly from the upper end 16 and a foot 38 that is spaced from the upper end 16. The foot 38 on each of the engagements 34 accommodates a cam lock on the pit liner 30 for releasably attaching the tube 12 to the pit liner 30.

A pair of shelves 40 is each coupled to the tube 12 having the shelves 40 being positioned inside the tube 12 to facilitate the service worker to stand thereon. Each of the shelves 40 has a rear edge 42 that is attached to the inside surface 26 of the inner layer 22 of the outer wall 20 of the tube 12. Each of the shelves 40 lies on a horizontal plane and each of the shelves 40 is positioned on opposite sides of the tube 12 from each other. Additionally, each of the shelves 40 is positioned between the upper end 16 and the lower end 18 of the tube 12.

A plurality of spray bars 44 is each coupled to the tube 12 having each of the spray bars 44 being positioned inside the tube 12. Each of the spray bars 44 is fluidly coupled to a fluid source thereby facilitating each of the spray bars 44 to spray a fluid onto the tube 12 for cleaning the tube 12. The fluid source may be a water line and the fluid may be water. Each of the spray bars 44 is positioned on the inside surface 26 of the inner layer 22 of the outer wall 20 of the tube 12 and each of the spray bars 44 extends substantially around a circumference of the inside surface 26. Each of the spray bars 44 is positioned proximate a respective one of the upper end 16 and the lower end 18.

Each of the spray bars 44 has a plurality of spray nozzles 46 thereon and each of the spray nozzles 46 has a distal end 48 that is directed toward a center of the tube 12. The distal end 48 of each of the spray nozzles 46 has a spray aperture 50 for spraying the fluid outwardly therefrom for cleaning the inside surface 26. A valve 52 is coupled to the tube 12, the valve 52 is in fluid communication with each of the spray bars 44 and the valve 52 is in fluid communication with the fluid source. The valve 52 is positionable between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid that is supplied to the spray bars 44 to adjust the intensity with which the fluid is sprayed. The valve 52 is positioned on the inside surface 26 of the inner layer 22 of the outer wall 20 of the tube 12 to be accessible to the service worker. The valve 52 may be a fluid valve of any conventional design that can adjust fluid pressure.

A suction conduit 54 is integrated into the tube 12 and the suction tube 12 extends along a full height of the tube 12. The suction tube 12 is connectable to a suction pump to facilitate the fluid to be pumped out of the tube 12 after the tube 12 is cleaned. The suction conduit 54 is integrated into the inside surface 26 of the inner layer 22 of the outer wall 20 of the tube 12. The suction conduit 54 extends between the upper end 16 and the lower end 18 of the tube 12. Additionally, the suction conduit 54 has an intake 56 that is positioned on the lower end 18 and a top end 58 of the suction conduit 54 is connectable to the suction pump. A ladder 60 is positioned within the tube 12 to facilitate the service workers to climb into the tube 12. The ladder 60 is coupled to the inside surface 26 of the inner layer 22 of the outer wall 20 of the tube 12.

A lid 62 is provided and the lid 62 is positionable over the tube 12. The lid 62 has an opening 63 extending therethrough to accommodate the oil well 14 when the lid 62 is positioned on the tube 12. The lid 62 has a bottom surface 64, a top surface 66 and a perimeter edge 68 extending therebetween. The bottom surface 64 rests on the lip 32 having the top surface 66 being oriented flush with the upper end 16 of the tube 12, and the opening 63 extends through the bottom surface 64 and the top surface 66. The lid 62 has a slot 70 extending from the perimeter edge 68 toward a center of the lid 62 for accommodating the suction tube 12 when the lid 62 is positioned on the tube 12.

In use, the tube 12 is buried beneath ground to surround the oil well 14 and subsequently define an oil well cellar for service workers to access. The pit liner 30 is positioned on top of the tube 12 and cam locks on the pit liner 30 are manipulated to engage the engagements 34 for attaching the pit liner 30 to the tube 12. The spray bars 44 can spray the fluid onto the inside surface 26 for cleaning the tube 12 and the fluid can be sucked out of the tube 12 with the suction conduit 54. Additionally, structural repairs can be performed on the tube 12 while the tube 12 is still in place without the need to perform welding or other work that would otherwise require the service workers to obtain a hot work permit.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. An oil well cellar assembly for installing on an oil well for protecting the surrounding environment from petroleum contamination, said assembly comprising: a tube being positionable beneath ground having said tube surrounding an oil well thereby facilitating said tube to define a oil well cellar wherein said oil well cellar is configured to facilitate service workers to access the oil well, said tube being comprised of an electrically insulating material wherein said tube is configured to enhance safety with respect to electrical discharge between said tube and the oil well; a pair of shelves, each of said shelves being coupled to said tube having said shelves being positioned inside said tube wherein said pair of shelves is configured to facilitate the service worker to stand thereon; a plurality of spray bars, each of said spray bars being coupled to said tube having each of said spray bars being positioned inside said tube, each of said spray bars being fluidly coupled to a fluid source thereby facilitating each of said spray bars to spray a fluid onto said tube for cleaning said tube; a suction conduit being integrated into said tube, said suction tube extending along a full height of said tube, said suction tube being connectable to a suction pump wherein said suction conduit is configured to facilitate the fluid to be pumped out of said tube after said tube is cleaned; and a lid being positionable over said tube, said lid having an opening extending therethrough to accommodate the oil well when said lid is positioned on said tube.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said tube has an upper end, a lower end and an outer wall extending therebetween, said outer wall having an inner layer and an outer layer wherein said outer layer is configured to inhibit contaminants from escaping said tube when said inner layer is compromised, said inner layer having an inside surface being directed into an interior of said tube, said upper end being open, said lower end being closed, said upper end being attachable to a pit liner for the oil well.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said lower end has an aperture extending into an interior of said tube, said aperture being centrally positioned on said lower end, said aperture having the oil well extending upwardly therethrough when said tube is positioned beneath ground.
 4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said inner surface has a lip extending around a full circumference of said inner surface, said lip being spaced downwardly from said upper end, said lip being oriented to extend along a line being oriented parallel to said upper end.
 5. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of engagements, each of said engagements being coupled to said upper end of said tube, said engagements being spaced apart from each other and being directed around a full circumference of said upper end, each of said engagements comprising leg extending upwardly from said upper end and a foot being spaced from said upper end, said foot on each of said engagements accommodating a cam lock on the pit liner for releasably attaching said tube to the pit liner.
 6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said shelves has a rear edge being attached to said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, each of said shelves lying on a horizontal plane, said shelves being positioned on opposite sides of said tube from each other, each of said shelves being positioned between said upper end and said lower end of said tube.
 7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said spray bars is positioned on said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, each of said spray bars extending substantially around a circumference of said inner surface, each of said spray bars being positioned proximate a respective one of said upper end and said lower end, each of said spray bars having a plurality of spray nozzles thereon, each of said spray nozzles having a distal end being directed toward a center of said tube, said distal end of each of said spray nozzles having a spray aperture wherein said spray aperture is configured to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for cleaning said inner surface.
 8. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a valve being coupled to said tube, said valve being in fluid communication with each of said spray bars, said valve being in fluid communication with the fluid source, said valve being positionable between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid being supplied to said spray bars wherein said valve is configured to adjust the intensity with which the fluid is sprayed, said valve being positioned on said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube wherein said valve is configured to be accessible to the service worker.
 9. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said suction conduit is integrated into said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, said suction conduit extending between said upper end and said lower end of said tube, said suction conduit having an intake being positioned on said lower end, said top end being connectable to the suction pump.
 10. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a ladder being positioned within said tube wherein said ladder is configured to facilitate the service worker to climb into said tube, said ladder being coupled to said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube.
 11. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said lid has a bottom surface, a top surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said bottom surface resting on said lip having said top surface being oriented flush with said upper end of said tube, said opening extending through said bottom surface and said top surface, said lid having a slot extending from said perimeter edge toward a center of said lid for accommodating said suction tube when said lid is positioned on said tube.
 12. An oil well cellar assembly for installing on an oil well for protecting the surrounding environment from petroleum contamination, said assembly comprising: a tube being positionable beneath ground having said tube surrounding an oil well thereby facilitating said tube to define a cellar wherein said cellar is configured to facilitate service workers to access the oil well, said tube being comprised of an electrically insulating material wherein said tube is configured to enhance safety with respect to electrical discharge between said tube and the oil well, said tube having an upper end, a lower end and an outer wall extending therebetween, said outer wall having an inner layer and an outer layer wherein said outer layer is configured to inhibit contaminants from escaping said tube when said inner layer is compromised, said inner layer having an inside surface being directed into an interior of said tube, said upper end being open, said lower end being closed, said lower end having an aperture extending into an interior of said tube, said aperture being centrally positioned on said lower end, said aperture having the oil well extending upwardly therethrough when said tube is positioned beneath ground, said upper end being attachable to a pit liner for the oil well, said inner surface having a lip extending around a full circumference of said inner surface, said lip being spaced downwardly from said upper end, said lip being oriented to extend along a line being oriented parallel to said upper end; a plurality of engagements, each of said engagements being coupled to said upper end of said tube, said engagements being spaced apart from each other and being directed around a full circumference of said upper end, each of said engagements comprising leg extending upwardly from said upper end and a foot being spaced from said upper end, said foot on each of said engagements accommodating a cam lock on the pit liner for releasably attaching said tube to the pit liner; a pair of shelves, each of said shelves being coupled to said tube having said shelves being positioned inside said tube wherein said pair of shelves is configured to facilitate the service worker to stand thereon, each of said shelves having a rear edge being attached to said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, each of said shelves lying on a horizontal plane, said shelves being positioned on opposite sides of said tube from each other, each of said shelves being positioned between said upper end and said lower end of said tube; a plurality of spray bars, each of said spray bars being coupled to said tube having each of said spray bars being positioned inside said tube, each of said spray bars being fluidly coupled to a fluid source thereby facilitating each of said spray bars to spray a fluid onto said tube for cleaning said tube, each of said spray bars being positioned on said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, each of said spray bars extending substantially around a circumference of said inner surface, each of said spray bars being positioned proximate a respective one of said upper end and said lower end, each of said spray bars having a plurality of spray nozzles thereon, each of said spray nozzles having a distal end being directed toward a center of said tube, said distal end of each of said spray nozzles having a spray aperture wherein said spray aperture is configured to spray the fluid outwardly therefrom for cleaning said inner surface; a valve being coupled to said tube, said valve being in fluid communication with each of said spray bars, said valve being in fluid communication with the fluid source, said valve being positionable between a minimum flow rate and a maximum flow rate for adjusting the flow rate of the fluid being supplied to said spray bars wherein said valve is configured to adjust the intensity with which the fluid is sprayed, said valve being positioned on said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube wherein said valve is configured to be accessible to the service worker; a suction conduit being integrated into said tube, said suction tube extending along a full height of said tube, said suction tube being connectable to a suction pump wherein said suction conduit is configured to facilitate the fluid to be pumped out of said tube after said tube is cleaned, said suction conduit being integrated into said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube, said suction conduit extending between said upper end and said lower end of said tube, said suction conduit having an intake being positioned on said lower end, said top end being connectable to the suction pump; a ladder being positioned within said tube wherein said ladder is configured to facilitate the service worker to climb into said tube, said ladder being coupled to said inner surface of said inner layer of said outer wall of said tube; and a lid being positionable over said tube, said lid having an opening extending therethrough to accommodate the oil well when said lid is positioned on said tube, said having a bottom surface, a top surface and a perimeter edge extending therebetween, said bottom surface resting on said lip having said top surface being oriented flush with said upper end of said tube, said opening extending through said bottom surface and said top surface, said lid having a slot extending from said perimeter edge toward a center of said lid for accommodating said suction tube when said lid is positioned on said tube. 